Originally published at National Catholic Register
Goodbyes were bittersweet as young adults, families, religious, priests, and others prepared to leave the youth conference that drew more than 17,000 attendees — some Catholic, others exploring their faith.
The SEEK conference, held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City from Jan. 1-5. is much more than a retreat, clergy and religious in attendance observed.
Father Dave Pivonka, president of Franciscan University of Steubenville and first-time SEEK attendee, said the conference was “like a family reunion for me.”
Father Pivonka, who heads a Catholic liberal arts college in Steubenville, Ohio, said that he saw “so many of our alumni that are in the trenches doing the work.”
“To be with young people who are interested in pursuing the relationship with Christ is always a blessing,” he told CNA.
Father Pivonka called SEEK “a great witness to the city of Salt Lake.”
“It’s more of a reunion for me of different people from all different parts of my life,” added Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, a longtime attendee of the event. Bishop Conley has attended SEEK off and on from its inception, about 10 times.
Both Father Pivonka and Bishop Conley felt a
